This series continues to get better. O’Connor really finds a way to build a captivating world and make Raz an interesting character. The story takes us to Cyurgi’Di, where Raz has to find a way to save the priests and priestesses from Gûlraht Baoill. There will probably be spoilers from here on out.
The battle between Baoill and Raz was probably one of the best fights I have read outside of the Stormlight Archives in a very long time. I wondered if we would ever find someone who could be a worthy match to Raz. Gûlraht Baoill was definitely worthy.
I liked the way O’Connor handled the imprisonment of Syrah and her subsequent torture. He did not shy away from going into a very dark place, but he brought Syrah out of it. She is stronger and still somewhat broken. She feels like a real person. She did not just shrug it all off, it is part of her now and always will be.
I do have one complaint about the book. The Laoran have a very weird notion in regards to killing. They are a religion that cannot condone murder. They do not accept that Raz killed men to save Syrah. However, their big plan was to wait for Talo to rally the armies of the valley towns to the aid of the High Citadel. What did the priests think would happen when that army came? They would fight the mountain men and there would be death. And yet, they could not accept that Raz would fight and kill in order to save them.
I realize that O’Connor would probably argue that religions are full of hypocrisy. I agree, but this seems to be out there in the open a little too much and would need to be addressed by someone. I should probably mention that throughout the book, the priests are against the taking of any life. So by their own weird rules, they would not be able to condone the valley soldiers who came to fight for them. The whole thing bothered me. I am glad that Raz and Syrah are leaving.
Anyways, I look forward to reading the next book. I hope that we circle back to Raz being some kind of promised hero for his people: the Atherians (spelling?). If the epilogue is any indication, that looks to be where things are going.
